[designengineering]

I would like to know what is the best way to neutralize car battery acid...I believe it is sulfuric acid.  We are looking for a chemial that can be sprayed onto a polypropelene mat so when the acid leaks out of the battery it is absorbed into the mat and neutralized before it destroys the metal battery tray.

Any thoughts on the subject would be much appreciated.

David

[hmx9123]

You could put a large amount of limestone down (it's calcium carbonate and will neutralize the acid until it's gone).  If it's particulate, it might be dusty, though.  You could also look into getting plastic pans--that would probably be a lot easier.  There's a lot of inorganic carbonates out there, like baking soda for instance, that will do the same thing (baking soda is actually sodium bicarbonate, but whatever). Any of the carbonates will produce gas, namely CO₂.  You might be able to do some complicated stuff with buffered solutions or weak bases, but it's truly easier just to buy a plastic pan.

[budullewraagh]

if you're looking for a spray, i recommend NaOH(aq).  it's the main ingredient in drano, although along with it you will have a bit of NaHClO.  i would not recommend any carbonate or bicarbonate mainly because a great deal of CO2(g) would be released which could get annoying.  

[hmx9123]

But if you use NaOH, you need to remember a few things:

1. It is caustic to the skin
2. If you get it in your eye, it will burn out your retina
3. Dust from the solid, or possibly spray can damage the lungs
4. Reaction with sulfuric acid will generate a tremendous amount of heat, possibly causing acid spatter
5. NaOH tends to be decently corrosive, as well as the acid itself.  Some things that the acid won't attack, the hyroxide might.

This is why I recommended the bicarbs, even though they will fizz a lot.

[jdurg]

Also, a spray of an NaOH solution will make whatever it is sprayed onto INCREDIBLY slick.  So the chances of a slip and fall if someone were to walk on the mat would increase quite a bit.  

[Donaldson Tan]

Why not Calcium Oxide?